Opinion Please

[Nathan Lovas]

I am having a hard time being making up my mind about this photo. I would love some opinions/critiques. Thanks in advance...Nate

[Daniel Cadieux]

What you've got going for you in this image is the great low angle and smooth pale-blue water. What's working against it is the front bird facing away...at least if you could see the eye it would be a bit better. Also the BG bird's bill is unfortunately merged with the other's tail and is rather close to the edge. I'd file this one under "close, but no cigar"

Do you have others from this series? I'd be very interested to see more... :-)

[John Chardine]

Hi Nathan- I like the image although it has some obvious issues (overlap of bill and tail, no eye contact in left bird). The reflection and overall colour is very nice and the sharpness of the left bird is spot-on. From a biological perspective it is a very interesting image because it shows that phalaropes- in this case Wilson's- are able to reach down at least a bill-length into the water column to get at food.

[Nathan Lovas]

I should have done this before, but here is a link to the series Daniel:

http://nathanlovas.smugmug.com/gallery/5271086_F3ofV#320970753_ADLrp

[Arthur Morris]

Welcome. Daniel and John have mentioned the problems with this particular image. I do find the light lovely and the behavior interesting. I look forward to seeing more of your phalarope images as I am a big time shorebird lover.

[John Chardine]

Hold on Artie, seabird biologists claim phalaropes as their own (although admittedly the Wilsons is mainly freshwater)!

[Daniel Cadieux]

I should have done this before, but here is a link to the series Daniel:

http://nathanlovas.smugmug.com/gallery/5271086_F3ofV#320970753_ADLrp

Nathan, you've got definite keepers in there. Good job on that series.:)